Automatic analysis of gamma-ray spectra from germanium detectors

A review is given of techniques for the complete automatic analysis of multichannel gamma-ray spectra from high-resolution germanium detectors, and a FORTRAN computer program is described. Previously reported fitting methods, peak shape functions, and peak search techniques are discussed. A semi-empirical peak shape is presented which gives a good fit to the variety of peak shapes and intensities which may be found in a spectrum. Equivalence is shown between a peak search using the covariance of a general peak shape with the data and a search using a general zero-area transform on the data. A comparison is made of the sensitivities of four different transforms when used in a peak search.